Distributor head for dehydrators



April 15, 1941.

J. M; HALL.

DISTRIBUTOR HEAD FOR DEHYDRATORS Filed April 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 15, 1941. J. M. HALL nrs'rarau'ron am) FOR nnnYnaA-rons Filad April 14. .1938

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fYV III/ll III liu/anzo 7 .fosqph M Had Patented Apr. 15,1941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE msrnmuroa 11:3 :12; nsnrniu'rons Joseph M. Hall, Chica Application April 14, 1938, S0118! N- 201,930 17 Claims. (CL 261-88) This invention relates to dehydrating apparatus and more particularly to the head for atomizing liquid products.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved atomizing head for dehydrating apparatuses provided with novel means for discharging the liquid particles therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved spraying or atomizing head'having novel means for insuring an even distribution of the liquid product on the surface of the rotating elements of the head.

A further object of the invention is the pro- I vvision of new and improved means for directing them in umbrella form in the dehydrator chamher to have the moisture evaporated therefrom by heated air introduced from above.

Other and further objectsand advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a dehydrating chamber showing the invention in position therein; with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the dehydrating chamber and the distributor mechanism, with parts in section and parts-broken away:

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the distributor mechanism shown more or less diagrammatically;

5 is a bottom plan view of the lower portion 01' the dehydrating chamber, shown more or less ditically;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form 01 the distributor mechanism in position on the Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the dehydrating head, with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 6 and shown more or less diagrammatically. I

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character I designates adehydrating or desiccating chamber having the cylindrical side wall II, the upper sloping top wall l2 merging into the flat top wall l3 on which is mounted the distributor mechanism 20. The top wall may be dome-shaped or flat, the form shown is by way of example only.

The lower portion of the chamber walls taper oi thechannel is bent inwardly and the wall M of the dehydrator is flush with said edge as shown at I! so that the mixture of air and material may readily enter the channel and the material collecting on the inclined wall I5 may readily slide down into the channel It.

A suitable cone 1! rises into the lower portion of the dehydrating chamber and is arranged in the axis of the dehydrator for conducting material into said channel or trough IS. The lower edge of this cone extends into the trough and is connected to the. outwardly extending portion of the inner wall of the channel l6. This arrangement provides a restricted opening or slot 2| through which the air and material passes into the channel member I6 and at the same time confines the air and material entering said chan. nel from the dehydrator chamber in its movement along said channel.

Since the air introduced into the chamber absorbs moisture from the atomized particles, it

will become more or less saturated and the dehydrated material, being hot and in a damp atmosphere, tends to adhere more or less to the walls oi. the channel It. It has been found that this may be prevented by increasing the velocity of the air in the channel, especially if the temperature be lowered and its humidity somewhat reduced by directing outside air through the channel.

The air and material entering said channel from the dehydrating chamber are moving righthanded, as viewed in Fig. 5, and in order to increase the velocity and at the same time somewhat reduce the temperature and the percentage of moisture in the same, means are provided for introducing air directly into the channel ll from the atmosphere. A conduit 22 is provided for this purpose, Fig. 5. V y

In order to increase the velocity, an auxiliary fan 23 is provided. A valve 24 is provided for controlling the amount of air introduced.

The distributor mechanism 2| comprises an portion of the channel is in communication with a conduit 26 which'conducts heated air tangentially into the channel from a suitable source of supply. The channel is mounted above and extends around an opening 21 in the top l3 0! the dehydrator chamber. The outer circular wall of the chamber rests on the top wall l3 and the inner wall thereof is connected to a connecting wall 28 spaced from the wall II to aflord an annular space for permitting air to pass from the channel 26 into and through the opening 21.

A depending cylindrical wall or sleeve 2! extends about the opening 21 for directing the air downward into the chamber II. The air enters the channel 25 tangentially and, as shown, rotates clockwise, as viewed from above in Fig. l.

The distributor head 30 is supported beneath the cylinder wall or sleeve 29 and is supported by the wall 28. The distributor head and operating mechanism comprises a base plate SI, Fig. 2, supported on the wall 22 on which is mounted the lower section 32 of a fan housing 22 which is coaxial with a depending cylindrical wall or sleeve 290 and to which housing the sleeve is rigidly attached. The housing section 32 has a central opening into which the sleeve 28. ex- 7 tends, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2. The upper section 34 of the fan housing is rigidly connected to a motor casing 35 and has an axial opening therein through which air passing around a channel 38 in the motor casing is adapted to be drawn axially into the fan 31. The fan 31 is of the centrifugal type having the segmental spiral vanes 38 as is usual in such constructions. Since the arrangement of the fan blades are old and well known in the art, it is not thought necessary to illustrate. or describe the same more in detail further than to say the air enters axially and is discharged tangentially.

The fan 31 is carried by a spindle 29 having an axial bore 40 through which the liquid productpasses to the distributor head ill. The armature ll of the motor 42 is fast to the spindle for rotating the same. Suitable antifriction bearings 43 and 44 in the motor casing 35 and a similar bearing 45 at the lower end'of the sleeve 290, depending from the fan housing 33, are provided for the spindle. A suitable sleeve 4' extends over the upper reduced end 41 of the spindle 39 and is rigidly attached to the motor casing over the antifriction bearing and a suitable gland l8 within the sleeve surrounding the reduced end 41 forms a liquid-tight joint at this point An adjusting hollow member 49 forced inwardly by a spring II engaging a cap member I2 holds the packing or gland is in position to form a liquid tight Joint about the rotating spindle end. The sleeve it has a lateral extension 53 having an axial bore 54 for admitting the liquid product to be dehydrated. A valve BI regulates the amount of liquid passing through the bore. The sleeve 40 has a reduced portion with lateral openings It therein opposite the e ll through which the liquid passes to the axial bore ll of the spindle 38. p

The motor casing 35 has the passage 38 extending about the same, for cooling the motor. The casing is provided with an opening 51 having a nlter 58 therein and a hinged closure 50 therefor. A lever 8|, held in adjusted position by a quadrant 82, is adapted to hold the closure in adjusted position.

Mounted within the fan housing 33 is a partltion I spaced from the lower section 22 whereby air forced radially outwardly by the curved fan blades It will escape through the ge formed by the partition 63 and the lower section of the housing into the sleeve 28!. The lower end of the sleeve 2 has a counterbore in which is mounted a bearing retaining plate ll having an axial bore for receiving the bearing 4! for the lower end of the spindle II. The bearing retaining plate is provided with a raised portion forming a chamber for the bearing 45. A plate 60 secured to the flanged lower end of the sleeve 2" holds the plate 64 in'position. A pipe 8' extending from the exterior of the dehydrating chamber and having its lower end extending into the raised portion 65 is adapted to conduct lubricant to the hearing. The plates 60 and 84 have a plurality of aligned openings 61 through which air delivered by the fan 31 escapes into the air chamber 88, as will presently appear.

The sleeve 290 is adapted to have a suitable layer of insulating material "I extending about the same for preventing the heat of the air from passing downward through the sleeve 29. from injuriously affecting the condensed liquid flowing downward in the bore ll of the spindle 39.

A conical casing shield or deflector I, tapering upwardly, has its flanged upper portion clamped in position by the plate 60 or secured in any other suitable manner and has its lower edge adjacent to the periphery of the rotating distributor head 30. The casing 69 directs thehot air entering through the sleeve 29 from the air distributor 25 downwardly and outwardly across 'the atomized liquid product discharged tangentially from the head 30. This casing also forms an air chamber 68 for receiving the air delivered by the fan 31. The rotation of the distributor head tends to form a vacuum within the cone or cone member 13 of the head and the air in this chamber will pass through openings 12 in the cone or inverted cap member I3 of the head 30 for relieving the back pressure due to the partial vacuum in this cone.

formed between the periphery of the head 30 and the lower edge of. the casing I.

The distributor head 30, Fig. 2, comprises the hollow cone or inverted cup or cup member 13 which tapers upwardly and is rigidly attached to the lower end of the spindle II as by being screw threaded thereon. The spindle 39' extends into the cone l3 and has a threaded cap 14 thereon. The lower end of the cap H is closed and its side wall has outwardly and downwardly extending The remaining air escapes outwardly through the slot or space 14 openings 75 through which the liquid product passingdownward through the passage 40 is pro- Jected by centrifugal force and by pressure on the liquid onto the inner surface of the cup.

Cast integral with the lower portion of the cone i8 is a plate 18 which extends radially outwardly and slightly upwardly. Spaced downwardly from the plate I8 is another plate 11 which extends outwardly and slightly downwardly. A plurality of curved vanes 18 are rigid with the two plates as by being cast integral therewith. The lower plate has an axial opening 19 which is closed by a removable closure 8|. The lower edge of the cone 13 extends into the space between the plates 18 and 11 and has a plurality of narrow slots 82 in its peripheral edge. These slots are straight and fairly close to each other. They are at an angle to the radius and are so arranged that they extend downwardly and forwardly, that is, in the rotation of the head the outer ends of the slots lead. The slots are so arranged that the upper end of the forward slot is in substantially the same vertical plane passing through-the axis of the cone as the lower end of the following slot. By means of this 9.1-

rangement, the film of liquid product in passing downward along the interior wall of the cone will fiow into one or the other of these slots and be thrown from the cone. In other words, each particle of the film will come in contact with one ofthe slots at some point along the length of the slot. As a result, the liquid product, after being spread out on the inner surface of the cup,

. will come in contact with the slots throughouttheir length and will be thrown outward through the slots in finely divided particles in the form of a ribbon or band for each slot. These ribbons of finely divided particles, being in substantially vertical planes, afford a maximum exposure to the hot air revolving about the axis of the dehydrator. In other words, the rotating stream of hot air contacts the ribbon of particles substantially broadside thereby insuring a thorough intermingling of the fine particles and hot air for dehydrating the particles. Furthermore, since the particles are projected from the slots in different horizontal planes, the particles are not so likely to come in contact with one another and coalesce as would be the case were the particles all discharged from one circular edge in a single horizontal plane.

It has been found that this arrangement gives better results, that is, a more uniform size of'the dehydrated particles than where the slots are omitted. The inside of the lower slotted edge of the cone or inverted cup is tapered outwardly as at 88, Fig. 2, to facilitate the discharge of the liquid particles from the slots.

The vanes 18 are curved sharply forwardly at their innerends and are curved but slightly forwardly at their outer ends. In other words, these vanes are concave forwardly with their inner ends curved on a shorter radius than their outer I ends. The particles, when they leave the slots 82, are moving at a lower velocity than the vanes 18. Then, in order to prevent splattering of the particles when they strike the vanes 18, these vanes are bowed sharply rearwardly so as to,

thebore 48 of the spindle 38 to the cap H. The rotating cap and the pressure on the liquid causes the same to be projected onto the interior surface of the cone 13. The rotation of the cone and gravity will cause the liquid to flow in a thin layer down the interior wall of the cone in a layer of gradually decreasing thickness and increasing area. This film will be intercepted by the slots and the liquid forced through the slots will be discharged tangentially outwardly and will be picked up by the curved vanes 18. The liquid will be thrown gradually outward and as the blades 18 gradually increase in width and circumference, the surface is much more extensive than the interior of the cone and the liquid spreads out in a thin film overthe blades 18 and is thrown from the same in very fine particles in umbrella form in the dehydrator.

Air entering the fan 31 through the passage 38 is directed downwardly through the sleeve 888 around the spindle tending to cool the same and to cool the bearings therefor and then passes through the passages 81 into the chamber 68 and from the chamber part of it passes through the passages 12 into the cone 13 for reducing the back pressure within the cone.

Simultaneously, heated air entering the air distributor 25 will be caused to rotate either in the opposite or in the same direction asthe head 38. Preferably, as inthe form of the construction shown, the'air and head rotate inthe same direction. Better results may be obtained by having the air and head rotate inthe same direction since there is no such violent turbulence and uneven mixing of the air and liquid particles as when they rotate in opposite directions.

The air from the distributor 25 passes downwardly through the sleeve 28 whirling as it descends. The shield 89 directs the same, still rotating, outwardly and downwardly across the periphery of the head and mixing with the finely divided particles will dehydrate the same. The dehydrated particles will be exhausted from the chamber through the channel l6 and conduit 83 and will pass to the separator.

In Figs. 6 to 9 is shown a modified form of liquid distributor mechanism. In this form of the apparatus shown in these figures, the air distributor is a different construction from that shown in Fig. 1. In this form of construction, a circular air chamber 250 is provided into which heated air is introduced tangentially through the pipe 280 (Fig. 9). The chamber 250 is mounted on the top wall I3- of the distributor chamber, which wall may constitute the bottom wall of the air chamber. I

As shown, the distributor supporting base 85, seated on the air chamber 250, has a motor case 88 mounted thereon. An electric motor 81 is mounted within the casing, the armature 88 of which is fixed to a spindle 88 (Fig. 6).' This spindle has a bore 9|, through which the liquid product passes from a suitable source of supply .to the sprayer or atomizer head 92, as will presently appear. The motor casing has ventilating openings 93, and a fan 90 on the armature shaft draws air into the motor for cooling the same. Suitable breather openings 930, with filter 940, are provided on the motor base for supplying air to the distributor head to relieve the back preswithin the sleeve 390 for oiling the bearings, is also provided.

The arrangement of the bearing and construction of the head 02 diilers from the form shown in Fig. 2, as will now be described. In this form of construction the head 02 is more or less concave, opening downwardly, and comprises a head casting in the form of an inverted cup 91 concave on its lower side and having an axial upstanding hollow stem portion 90 providing a chamber 90 therein. The chamber 88 has its upper end provided with means for forming a sliding interlocking or spline connection with the lower end of the spindle 89, as shown at IOI in Fig. 8.

The head is held in position by bearings I02 and I03, the inner members of which are secured to the stem' and the outer member to a sleeve I04. The sleeve I04 has a channel I05 in its lower end for'receiving excess oil from the hearing. The sleeve I0 is detachably connected to a plate I00 integral with or rigidly connected to the sleeve 380. The sleeve I04 and stem 98 have cooperating rabbets in which are seated the thrust bearings I02 and I03. The threaded rings I01 and I08 engaging, respectively, the internal threads in the sleeve I04 and the external threads on the stem 98 hold the bearings firmly seated in the rabbets.

The inner members of the ball bearings clamp an annular guard I09 against the ledge I I0 formed by the rabbet on the stem. The guard IIO extends into the channel I05 for directing oil from the bearings into the channel.

A shield ,I has its lnturned upper end clamped to the plate I00 and extends downwardly and outwardly for directing the hot air from the distributor 250 passing downward through the sleeve I25, downward and outward-across the outer edge or peripheral edge of the distributor head for mixing with the liquid particles projected tangentially outward from the rotating head for dehydrating the same. I

A cup-shaped shield II! is provided beneath but adjacent to the head 02. The peripheral edge of the member II! is closely adjacent to the head at the upper end of the slots H3 and any liquid that may fall on the shield I I5 during the operation of the device will be projected outwardly by centrifugal force and by the air from the chamber 09 onto the lower portion of the head. The slots 3 are narrow but are wide enough for the liquid in the film on the head to pass through the slot and be projected from the edges of the slots, substantially throughout their lengths, in the form of a band or ribbon of finely divided particles.

The stem 98 is provided with passages III for conducting the air flowing through the motor and sleeve 300 into the chamber 09 for conducting air to the interior of the cup member to relieve the back pressure due to the partial vacuum formed by the centrifugal action set up by the rotating head. These passages diverge downwardly whereby the centrifugal action on the air therein assists in causing the air to flow through these passages. A plurality of outwardly and downwardly extending openings I I2 are provided for the escape of the'air and liquid from the chamber 90. The lower edge of the head 02 has narrow slots 3 iairly close together which extend downwardlyand forwardly. The slots are so arranged that the lower end of each precedes its upper end in the rotation of the head and the top end of the advancing slot is in substantially the same vertical plane extending.

through the axis of the head as the lower end of the following slot so that the liquid, even though'it should flow downwardly in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the head, will flow into the following slot. The blades I formed by the slots II! are tapered outwardly and downwardly from its inner side so as to increasethe centrifugal action.

The shield H5 is provided for forming with the head 02 a passage Iii for conflning'the liquid therein. The shield terminates in a zone above the plane of the slots III and closely adiacent thereto. The shield is secured in posiand dehydrating air in the same direction is also conducive to uniformity in size of the individual particles since there is not such wild turbulence of the air as when they rotate in opposite directions. In other words, a smoother action with a minimum of coalescing or the particles ensues.

The head 92 may be of any suitable size. The dimensions and'form oi the different parts may vary within wide limits andmay also vary with the particular substance to be dehydrated. It has beemfound that" where milkv condensate is treated, a head sixteen inches in diameter and having slots one and one-quarter inches long, one-eighth inch wide and arranged at an angle of about 60 degrees to the lower edge of the head and the head rotated at about 3400 R. P. M. give satisfactory results.

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the artand that changes in size, shape and proportion may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid product dehydrating apparatus, a distributor head comprising an inverted cup member having its peripheral edge provided with 'the upper portion of said cup member and tapering upwardly, and means for directing a blast of gaseous drying medium downwardly over the outer edge of said casing for dehydrating said liquid product.

2. In a liquid product dehydrating apparatus,

- a distributor head comprising an inverted cup member tapering upwardly and having its peripheral edge provided with a plurality of narrow .open ended slots arranged at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the slot and the axis of the head, means for rotating said head in a direction that the lower ends of the slots lead the upper ends thereof, means for hydrators, a head comprising an inverted cup' member having its lower edge provided with narrow slots arranged at an angle and at such distance apartthat a vertical plane through the axis of the head passing through the upper end of the advancing slot will pass through the forward end of the following slot, said slots having free open lower ends, means for rotating said head in such a direction that the upper ends of the slots follow the lower ends thereof, means for rotating said head, means for projecting a liquid product on the inner surface of said head. a cone-shaped deflector extending over said head and having its lower edge adjacent the outer edge of said head, and means for directing a stream of heated gaseous drying medium downwardly onto said deflector, said deflector causing said air to flow downwardly and outwardly across the outer edge of said head for atomizing and dehydrating said product.

4. In a liquid product dehydrating apparatus, a distributor head comprising an inverted cup member having its peripheral edge provided with a plurality of narrow slots opening downwardly, means for rotating the head, means for projecting a liquid product onto the interior of said said cone, and means for rotating said head at high velocity whereby the liquid product will flow down the inner wall of said cup and will be discharged throughsaid slots in a uniform hand of liquid particles onto the concave side of said blades and be discharged from the outer end of said blades in a :band of atomized particles.

- edge slotted with each slot extending at an angle to a vertical plane through the slot and axis 01 the cup, the lower ends of the slots being in ad- I vance of the upper ends and the lower end of head, means for delivering air under pressure within said head, a cone-shaped deflector over said head, and means for directing a stream of heated air downward onto said deflector for causing the same to flow downwardly and outwardly across the outer edge of said head.

5. In an apparatus for dehydrating liquid products, a hollow spindle for conducting liquid products along the same, a distributor head on the lower end of said spindle, said head comprising an inverted cup-shaped member having its lower edge provided with a plurality of comparatively narrow slots open at their lower ends, said slots being arranged at an angle to the axis of said head, means for rotating said head in such a direction as to cause the upper ends of said slots to follow the lower ends thereof in the rotation of said head, the upper end of-each slot being substantially in a vertical plane through the radius of said head, said spindle extending into said head and having radial openings therein through which said liquid product is discharged, a cone-shaped casing for said head, and means for directing a mass of heated air downwardly against said casing for causing the same to iiow downwardly and outwardly across the peripheral edge of said head.

6. A distributor head for dehydrator-s cornprising a cone member having aslotted lower edge, a pair of radially extending plates rigid with the cone member and spaced apart, curved blades between said plates, means for conduct-- the cup, the lower ends of said slots opening forwardly, a pair of plates spaced apart and rigidly connected together and to said cup, blades rigidly mounted between said plates and having their ends curved forwardly, means for delivering a liquid product to the interior of one slot being in a vertical plane through the axis of the cup and the upper end of a leading slot whereby all liquid product flowing down the inside of said cup will be intercepted by some portion of one of said slots and said product discharged from said slots in hands, a plurality of curved blades carried by said head and arranged radially outwardly from said slots having their inner ends curved forwardly on a comparatively short radius for intercepting said bands, and their outer ends curved forwardly on g a longer radius for discharging said product collected from said bands and in turn discharging the same in bands of finely divided particles in vertical planes tangent to the path of movement of the outer ends of said blades; i

9. In a dehydrating apparatus, distributing mechanism comprising a hollow spindle, a motor having an armature fast on said. spindle for rotating the same, an air passage around said spindle, a sleeve surrounding the lower end of the spindle, a distributor head on the lower end of said spindle, said head comprisingan inverted cup provided with air passages in its upper end and having angularly arranged slots on its lower edge, thelower end of said spindle having downwardly and outwardly extending openings through which liquid flowing through said spindle may be discharged onto the interior of said cup and flowing downwardly by gravity and centrifugal force be thrown from the marginal edges of said slots in bands of finely dividedparticles, a plurality of vanes rotating with said cup, ar-

' ranged radially outwardly from said slots and having their inner ends curved forwardly on a relatively short radius for intercepting said bands without an abrupt impact and having their outer ends curved forwardly on a longer radius for discharging said product in a band of for thoroughly mingling the heated air with said particles for dehydrating the same.

10. In an apparatus for dehydrating liquid products, distributor mechanism comprising a spindle, means for rotating said spindle, said spindle having an axial passage extending therethrough for the passage of a liquid product, a chamber at the'lower end of the spindle, a dis tributor head having a surface curved in cross section on the lower end of said spindle, passages extending outwardly from said chamber within said head for the discharge of liquid product contained in said chamber onto said curved sur-.

. face, ribs on the inner surface of said cup extending from the axis to the peripheral edge thereof for causing the fllm of liquid on the inner surface of said cup to rotate at the speed of said cup, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said spindle, an air chamber in communication with said sleeve, a conduit for conducting hot air to said air chamber and constructed and arranged to discharge the same tangentially therein for causing the air to rotate spirally downwardly through said sleeve around said head and rotating in the same direction as said head, said head having slots in its lower edge arranged atan acute angle to the direction of movement with the lower ends of said slots leading, the

upper end of any one of said slots being in a vertical plane through the axis of the head and the lower end of the following slot.

11. In a dehydrating apparatus, a distributor head having a recess therein through which a liquid product is adapted to be delivered to the interior of said head, means for rotating said 14. In a liquid product dehydrating apparatus, a distributor head attached at its upper end and comprising an inverted cup member tapering toward its upper end, having its axis vertical and having its circular lower edge provided with a plurality oi. open ended narrow slots arranged at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the slot and the axis of the head, a conduit hav- .ing lateral apertures in its lower end for delivering a liquid product to the interior of the inverted cup axially thereof, means for rotating said conduit and head for discharging said liquid from the lower ends and intermediate poracross said peripheral edge for dehydrating said head for discharging said liquid therefrom in finely divided particles, 9. stationary-air deflector over said head, means for delivering heated of said head, a hollow member ior conducting a liquid to said distributor head, means for closing thelower end of said hollow member, said said head for dehydrating said particles, and air passages diverging downwardly in said head for conducting air to the interior of said head for relieving the back pressure therein.

12. In a dehydrating apparatus, a distributor head comprising an inverted cup member having slots in its lower edge angularly arranged relative to its direction 01 rotation,- the lower ends of said slots leading the upper ends thereofduring. rotation of the head, a supporting upstanding verticalstem having a recess therein for receiving liquid product for treatment, passages leading irom said recess to the interior of said head, an inverted cup shield member'within said cup member spaced downwardly from the upper wall oi! said cup member, the peripheral edge of said member being'adjacent the upper ends of said slots, a cylindrical support extending about said stem, a'ntii'riction bearings having one portion rigidly secured on said stem and the other on said support, said stem having an axial opening provided with means for interlockingly connecting said stem to a rotating spindle.

13. In an apparatus for dehydrating a liquid product, a distributor head comprising a rotatable spindle, an inverted cup-shaped member on said spindle. and rotatable therewith, said spindle having a passage extending lengthwise thereof for conducting a liquid product to the interior of said member, said member having slots in its lower edge arranged at an acute angle to the direction of movement and with the upper end of any one 01 said slots in a vertical plane through said spindle and the lower end 01' the following slot, a cone-shaped deflector suspended from said head, means for introducing air under pressure into said cone and the upper portion 01' said member for relieving back pressure therein during the operation of said head, said deflector having its lower edge spaced slightly from ;.said head to provide a circular opening for the escape of a portion oi said air. and means for di- I means having laterally opening apertures, means for rotating said head and hollow member for projecting a liquid product onto the interior of said head, said head discharging said product in flnely divided particles therefrom-in an umbrella form, means for delivering air under pressure within said head, and means for directing a current of gaseous heating medium downwardly and outwardly across the peripheral edge of said head for assisting in atomizing and ,i'or dehydrating said particles.

16. In a liquid distributor mechanism for dehydrators, a head comprising an inverted cup member, having its lower edge provided with narrow slots open at their outer ends only and arranged at an angle and at such distance apart that a vertical plane through the axis of the projecting a liquid product on the interior of 'ing through the axis of the head and the lower end 01' a following slot, a'hollow rotating spindle on which said cup member is mounted. said spindle extending into said cup member and having-its lower end closed and provided with recting a spirally moving stream of air against therein rotatable with said spindle for dis-.

charging a liquid product introduced through said hollow spindle, and means for directing a current of heated air downwardly across the outer margin of said head for de'slccating said product.

JOSEPH M. HALL. 

